photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
Canada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin is the MVP for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Poulin, 34, takes the prize for the second time in an illustrious career. She led the scoring in this year’s tournament with 12 (4+8) points. That lifts her past Hayley Wickenheiser as Canada’s all-time leading scorer in World Championship play. Her overall tally is now 89 (39+50), ahead of Wickenheiser’s 86 and second only to the USA's Hilary Knight.
Poulin was also selected as the top forward by the tournament directorate. She was joined on that hot list by team USA goalie Aerin Frankel, who allowed six goals in her five games and stopped 94.51% of shots faced for a GAA of 1.05, and American defender Caroline Harvey, who scored the second goal of the gold medal game to finish with 4 (2+2) points in Czechia.
However, two of the directorate’s choices did not make the media’s All-Star team. Poulin led the forward line on that symbolic line-up, joined by Czechia’s Kristyna Kaltounkova and the USA’s Kelly Pannek. Kaltounkova, in her first World Championship, was a powerhouse for the Czech offence, showing great skill and physicality as she led her team in scoring. Pannek led Team USA with four goals, including the gamebreaker in a hard-fought semi-final against Czechia.
On defence, the media selected Finland’s Ronja Savolainen and Canada’s Renata Fast. Savolainen was a key figure as Finland grabbed bronze in dramatic fashion. The 27-year-old blue-liner had an assist on the late tying goal against Czechia and finished with 6 (3+3) points. Fast makes the team for the second year in a row after she was the most productive defender on display in Ceske Budejovice. Her eight assists included one to trigger Canada’s fightback in the gold medal game.
2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship Directorate Awards:
• Best Goaltender—Aerin Frankel (USA)
• Best Defender—Caroline Harvey (USA)
• Best Forward—Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN)
Media All-Star Team:
• Goal—Klara Peslarova (CZE)
• Defence—Renata Fast (CAN), Ronja Savolainen (FIN)
• Forward—Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN), Kelly Pannek (USA), Kristyna Kaltounkova (CZE)
Poulin, 34, takes the prize for the second time in an illustrious career. She led the scoring in this year’s tournament with 12 (4+8) points. That lifts her past Hayley Wickenheiser as Canada’s all-time leading scorer in World Championship play. Her overall tally is now 89 (39+50), ahead of Wickenheiser’s 86 and second only to the USA's Hilary Knight.
Poulin was also selected as the top forward by the tournament directorate. She was joined on that hot list by team USA goalie Aerin Frankel, who allowed six goals in her five games and stopped 94.51% of shots faced for a GAA of 1.05, and American defender Caroline Harvey, who scored the second goal of the gold medal game to finish with 4 (2+2) points in Czechia.
However, two of the directorate’s choices did not make the media’s All-Star team. Poulin led the forward line on that symbolic line-up, joined by Czechia’s Kristyna Kaltounkova and the USA’s Kelly Pannek. Kaltounkova, in her first World Championship, was a powerhouse for the Czech offence, showing great skill and physicality as she led her team in scoring. Pannek led Team USA with four goals, including the gamebreaker in a hard-fought semi-final against Czechia.
On defence, the media selected Finland’s Ronja Savolainen and Canada’s Renata Fast. Savolainen was a key figure as Finland grabbed bronze in dramatic fashion. The 27-year-old blue-liner had an assist on the late tying goal against Czechia and finished with 6 (3+3) points. Fast makes the team for the second year in a row after she was the most productive defender on display in Ceske Budejovice. Her eight assists included one to trigger Canada’s fightback in the gold medal game.
2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship Directorate Awards:
• Best Goaltender—Aerin Frankel (USA)
• Best Defender—Caroline Harvey (USA)
• Best Forward—Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN)
Media All-Star Team:
• Goal—Klara Peslarova (CZE)
• Defence—Renata Fast (CAN), Ronja Savolainen (FIN)
• Forward—Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN), Kelly Pannek (USA), Kristyna Kaltounkova (CZE)